Professor Was Discriminated Against Because Of Her Conversion To Islam

On paper, Lori Maria Walton is the kind of candidate most Seventh-day Adventist colleges and universities look for when filling faculty positions. She holds an MPH in Epidemiology & Biostatistics from Johns Hopkins University, a PhD from Nova Southeastern University, a doctorate in Physical Therapy from Creighton University, and degrees in Physical Therapy and Anatomy & Physiology from Andrews University.

Dr. Walton grew up in the Adventist Church, attending Mt. Vernon Academy before her time at Andrews University, where she took a year off to serve as a student missionary to the Marshall Islands.

Walton conducts research focused on international maternal and fetal health programs in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. She has published numerous peer-reviewed journal articles and has made presentations at state, national, and international conferences on the topic of obstetrics and gynecology in physical therapy.

She is nearing her tenth year as a teacher and researcher, and has worked as a clinical physical therapist for nineteen years.  In addition to membership in several professional associations, Walton provides pro-bono physical therapy in her community and abroad, and has led mission trips to Bangladesh with physical therapy students.

From the point of view of her employer, Andrews University, there is only one problem: Walton converted from Seventh-day Adventist Christianity to Islam in 2013, a year into her employment at Andrews.

In a Notification of Non-Renewal from Emmanuel Rudatsikira, Dean of the School of Health Professions at Andrews University, Walton was told,

“As you anticipated might be the case, your non-Adventist, non-Christian, faith commitment poses a challenge to Andrews University. This University has a mission to uphold Christ and that mission is served best by full-time faculty who profess a Christian faith.”